ZTE Peel for the iPod Touch passes through the FCC on its way to Sprint

The ZTE Peel 3200, a Sprint-branded sleeve with mobile hotspot functionality and EV-DO connectivity, was spotted at the FCC. The curious device sports a sleeve-style form factor that appears to be ideally suited for the iPod Touch. Details are sparse on the device but it is clearly a mobile hotspot with integrated GPS and support for up to 5 Wi-Fi-enabled devices. Any Sprint users out there who would consider using this with VoIP as an alternative to an AT&T iPhone?

Whoa, way to go Sprint! Depending on costs, this could be a sweet, sweet alternative to an iPhone.

Android

Don’t see how it makes sense that the alternative to an iPhone is a fat sleeve on a crippled apple product.

Android

And if you think about it, the fact that the fat sleeve is needed is a huge fail on Apple’s part. Wow.

Stromson

How is it an Apple fail? Apple never designed the iPod touch to be a phone, it was designed to be an iPod. With this case, you can turn your iPod Touch into a VoIP phone that isn’t tethered to a wireless network. There is nothing “crippled” about it.

Android

How is it not crippled? They took out the part that makes phone calls. Sounds crippled to me. And now they make a fat sleeve to cover up their mistake . . . Shaking my head . . .

Android

It is both a Fail and a failure.

Stromson

@Android I refuse to believe you’re this dumb. Stop being a troll!

Android

I refuse to believe you just called Android dumb. 2nd headshake.

pcdsim

iPod touches that don’t need fat sleeves or the device above are called iPhones. That’s like saying any PMPs like the Zune are a big failure because they can’t make calls. WRONG MARKET!!!!

Android

Totally agree with you there, it’s just that Apple thinks that covering up their device with a fat sleeve to make calls will take the attention away from the fact that the thing can’t make calls.

death grip

Too bad iPhones can’t make calls in the first place..

Android

So now, this is about the iPhone? Please stop changing the subject. This is all about the fat sleeve to fix the iPod touch.

death grip

@Android I am on your side :D I think this is dumb, Sprint wouldn’t have to make this just if Apple had re-designed their iPod Touches in the first place!

http://www.facebook.com/ITOUCHFIENDS Kenny

This isnt apple fixing a mistake. iphone is gsm network sprint is cdma network. This is making it possible for Sprint customers to basically have an iphone on the sprint network!

This is genius! Most customers hate ATT but have it for the iphone. this will be cheaper than buying an iphone and will steal att’s customers!

Steel

Now if only this will fit the new Ipod Touch this Fall and that version has a mic to go along w/ its speaker; this could be huge!

sirpaul

Very cool :D

Android

LOL. What an Apple fail. No Android phone needs a stupid sleeve to make phone calls.

Kendall Spann

this is ipod touch not iphone

Android

I know, and the fact that you need a fat sleeve for it to make a phone call is a huge fail on Apple’s part, you would agree?

pcdsim

It’s for an iPod, not the iPhone. iPods and iPod touches are not Phones, they are PMPs (portable media players). iPhones don’t need a fat sleeve because they are also phones.

Android

That’s exactly my point. Why would this need a fat sleeve just to make a phone call? Cuz of the Apple cripplement of their own products.

KillaPenguin

@Android

You’re an idiot.

Darth the Lord the Vader

What’s with the Android bashing? Apple fanboy?

Dave

This sleeve isn’t an Apple product. It’s a Sprint branded product – it’s large because it’s essentially an Overdrive or MiFi shaped into a case. It’s designed to give the iPod touch, not the iPhone, 3G access so users who don’t have a cellphone or who want just a data plan can access the internet on the go. Perhaps perfect for college students who would just like to use FaceTime with a future iPod touch product. This isn’t meant for making calls, though it might add that additional functionality.

m.h.truth

THANK YOU!!! finally a person with a working brain on this post.

http://buchnotes.com Eric B

This “Android” guy is joking right? Either he’s 12 year old with subpar reading comprehension (don’t worry, kid, it’s fixable!) or he’s just trying to be funny… Keyword: trying

Android

No joke, I strive to live just outside of the Reality Distortion Field of reality. I speak on truth that non-Apple fanboys strive to hear striving purposes.

http://buchnotes.com Eric B

Yeah, but even android fans right now are a little vexed by your insistence that this “sleeve” is made by apple to turn iPods into AT&T-ready cell phones… That couldn’t be farther from the truth. You’d be more persuasive if you stuck to the facts.

And, I gotta ask, why does it even matter to you so much? You’ve kinda taken over this thread on a major false pretense…

pcdsim

iPhone – Meant to be a phone, can’t make phone calls because of Death Touch = Apple Fail.

iPod Touch – PMP, not a Phone, not meant to be one. This device (Made by Sprint) turns it into a phone, adds phone functionality = Win for SPRINT, Win for iPod Touch owners.

You – under Android Reality Distortion field where everything Apple sucks = ignorance/idiot.

Josh

@Android

Are you just being extremely sarcastic?

m.h.truth

@ F…Android…if you want to make call on a apple device…you buy an iphone. If you just want to play music, movies, and games you buy an ipod touch… what don’t you comprehend about that?

also for the sake of living “outside of the Reality Distortion Field” LMAO!!! you can make calls on an ipod touch via skype, truphone, and fring via mic headphones!

Great idea, but, why? If android phones can pretty much do more than an iPod. But whatever floats your boat.

Stromson

It’s just the fact that if you want to, you can, that makes it so appealing. Choice is great, and it’s probably the closest thing Sprint will have to an iPhone for quite a while.

http://music.kwaping.com Kwaping

I think this is great. Sprint’s really on a roll!

Android

It’s not Sprint. Apple’s on ATT. First Antennaegate, now Fat Sleeve Gate. Don’t understand what’s so hard about making a phone.

KillaPenguin

Wow. Really?

Android

A: Yes.

the king 25

dont listen to android, if some of u remember, this was the guy who said tmobile is gettin a HSPA+ razr. on another note th

the king 25

*this is really good for sprint (hit enter on accident)

Asaf Simha

What is this?

AusFest

Fun! Give me one BGR! LOL

Android

Who knew that at some point, Apple could sink so low as to require a huge fat sleeve to make a freaking phone call. Amateurs. I predict bankruptcy within the next 17-18.5 months from the end of the last fiscal quarter. Bankruptcy could also come sooner or later than that, of course, but probably sooner, within 15-16 months.

Android

What’s with the negs? Bunch of Apple fanboys, I presume. OK, fine, Bankruptcy within the nexxt 17-18.5 months, not 15.16. Happy? Also, sometime within that time period, Android will begin to make some money.

Stromson

You’re getting negs for being a moron.

Android

That’s fair. When do you think Apple will go bankrupt? 17-18.5 months or 15-16? I went with the former, but it’s fine for you to pick the latter.

http://buchnotes.com Eric B

You get that this product is not made by apple, right? And that it’s just an attempt by a 3rd party manufacturer (and Sprint) to creatively piggyback a mifi-type router onto an ipod, right?!? Please tell me you’ve at least figured that out by now…

Android

It’s made by zte. Short for zteve. Short for zteve j. Trying to cover up a design flaw again. Luckily. Won’t work this time.

Kyle

Holy Crap??!!!

Closes thing Sprint will have to having an iPhone

Imagine having an Evo and a iPod Touch and being able to use ur iPod Touch as an iPhone…

http://music.kwaping.com Kwaping

Actually, if you have an EVO, you wont need this product because:

A. Your EVO can be a wifi hotspot, usable by an iPod.
B. You have an EVO, which is a phone.

its a new mifi

this isnt “sleeve” for an ipod, its a new 3g mifi device, its a standalone item

Kyle

True

You’ll still have to use third party apps to make phone calls…
Correct?

Such as Skype or VOIP call…
but u wouldn’t be able to receive calls?

T-Dub

I may drop my t-mo usb modem for this. Need more details…

Dave

the guy named Android is the new troll of BGR

WalterSobchak

I havent seen someone with this high of a ratio of posts since Jarret

WalterSobchak

16 of 48 comments are this android dude.
I think its a new method by an apple fanboy just to make people so mad, and everytime they see the word android…. Clever new tactic

Android

Actually it’s 17. Count again please.

Dream

I might get one, I already Jail broke my Ipod and turned it into Nexus One, and saving 30 dollars a month, On top of that i live by DC where every carrier seams to to be on there game, only question now is Will there a microphone built in orr????

Dream

Im Sorry near D.C

AusFest

Your all dumb. Who gives a fuck. Let them make whatever they want. Your opinion sucks! That’s all I have to say about that.

Ken

I own a Droid, 3rd gen Touch, iPad and Palm Pre. Not a fanboy, but Android is STUPID and I rarely use that word. I love his prediction of bankruptcy!! I have all my gadgets tethered to my Pre so I’m good, but I bet this will do very well on Sprint.

http://store.journalspace.com ross maddison

You’re getting negs for being a moron.

Seagullcanfly

I think one point that no one has mentioned on here yet is how this will work with the new iPod Touch most likely to be released in September.

One of my top wishes for a new iPod Touch would be an iPad-like data plan, all the features of the iPhone 4, without the phone since I returned the iPhone 4 for reception issues.

Quite possibly this device would work with a new generation of iPod touch anyway, which could be great if it also has the same camera and retina display of the iPhone 4. I’m not too keen on buying the current iPod Touch.

serpentor

Sprint shouldn’t rule out this for iPhone 4

maboocer

I think one of the main reasons they are coming out with this is for people that want a data pack for their ipod and the “maybe” making phone calls is just an added perk if you dont want a $100 a month phone bill on ur iphone this is a data only option

Jesster King

I don’t know if its the angle of the pic or what but it looks a little fat, I haven’t heard any news as to whether they were making a version for the 4th gen touches but it should at least work with the 2nd and 3rd gen touches since all the prototypes have been made for them.

John

I doubt I’d use it with VOIP, but I’d definitely use it as an alternative to the other mifi devices out there. Or even as an alternative to data cards and sticks. I’d probably unlock my G1, put it on the pre-paid $50/month unlimited voice+txt pre-paid plan, and then use this for any heavier data lifting, available to my G1, MacBook, the iPod itself, or any other device I might consider. Then, at some point, I’ll consider upgrading my G1.